Continuous washing machine



June 11, 194,6. A. A LOCKE ET AL .52,1347 CONTINUOUS WASHING MAGHINE p Fil-ed Jan- 51. 1944 of the interior of the container.

Patented June 11,y 1946 2,401,947 CONTINUOUS WASHING MACHINE Arthur troit, Mich., assigno chinery Company, D

A. Locke and Raymond F. Ternes, De-

rs to etroit, Mich.

Miller Laundry Ma- Application January 31, 1944, Serial No. 520,388

7 Claims.

This invention relates to washing machines and in particular it relates to washing machines of the continuous type. More particularly, the invention relates to a cylindrical or barrel type washer open at both ends, in combination with means separable from the cylinder whereby laundry is moved progressively through the cylinder.

Practically all of the present commercial laundry machines comprise a drum type container which is partially filled with water, loaded with laundry and rotated on its axis. found that machines of this type are neither economical, nor do they wash the laundry satisfactorily. In the first place, the laundry is continually being washed in soiled water and, in the second place, there is such a bulk of laundry within the container that much of the laundry receives very little individual agitation.

According to our invention, we provide a washing machine in the form of a cylindrical container in which the laundry is loaded into one end of the container and is discharged at the opposite end. One or more ribs extends along the length These ribs pick up laundry lying in a lowermost position within the container and carry the laundry into an elevated position within the container. At a predetermined position, the laundry is dropped from the ribs onto an inclined stationary member extending through the container This stationary member is provided with angularly disposed indentations or ribs forming, in effect, a chute upon which the laundry slides and becomes directed toward the outlet end of the Washing machine. Thus, a repeated elevating and dropping of the laundry within the container results in a progressive movement of the laundry toward the outlet end. This intermittent dropping action is carried on in combination with a spray of hot water and detergent solution. The cylindrical container is positioned so that its inlet end is located below the level of the outlet end. By arranging the container in this manner, in combination with a smaller opening at the inlet end, it is possible to retain a bank of water within the container which diminishes in depth from the inlet end to the outlet end. v

An apparatus as thus constructed and operated possesses a number of unique advantages distinctly departing from the conventional methods employed in commercial laundries. For example: Each individual piece of laundry receives individual treatment, in combinaticn with a contnuous supply of hot water and detergent. In this way, the soil removed from the laundry is It has been 2 carried away to a drain where it will not continue to contaminate the laundry being Washed. We have also found, by actual tests,-that laundry may be cleaned better in the presence of a small quantity of circulating water than laundry washed continuously in a large volume of Water.

Among the objects of our invention are to provide -a washing machine which will operate continuously and progressively; to provide a washing machine in which fresh water is supplied continuously, and in which the Water' runs directly from the container, carrying with it the scil removed from the laundry; to provide a washing machine in which the rinsing operation is carried on progressively in the same container; to provide a washing machine which includes separable stationary means for effecting a positive advancement of laundry through the container; and, to provide a w manufactured economically and operated efiiciently. These and other objects and advantages will appear more fully in the following detailed description when considered in combination with the accompanying drawing, in'which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly broken away, and in section, of a 'continuous washing machine of our invention; and

Figure 2 is a transverse view in section taken along lines II-II of Figure 1.

With reference to. the drawing we show an embodiment of our invention in the form of a cylindrical container, or sleeve 3, supported so that its inlet end is at a lower level than the outlet end. A pair of spaced structural channels 4 and 5 circumscribing the cylinder 3 and attached thereto form, in effect, tracks cradled on two pairs of Wheels 6 and 1. The wheels 6 are supported by brackets 8 and positioned from the door 9 by spacers I0. In a similar manner, the wheels 1 are supported by brackets II and spacers I2. An electrical motor I3 operating through a reduction unit I4 and a flexible coupling I5 provides a drive for the wheel 1. To assist in retaining the cylindricalcontainer 3 from moving axially, a thrust wheel I6 is provided to engage with one of the legs of the structural I1 supports the thrust'wheel I6 from the floor 9.

One or more ribs I8 attached to the inner surface of the `cylinder extends throughout the length of the cylinder. These ribs have a width extendorm a ledge or shelf so as to pick up and retain laundry, and drop the laundry from an elevatedposition as the cylinder is rotated. A plurality of openings I9 extending through the base of the rib I8 perashing machine which maybe channel 4. A bracket` l The hot water and. the

- the container.

mits water to dow therethrough as the cylinder is rotated.

The direction of movement of laundry, shown in the drawing, is indicated by the arrow at the left hand opening of the cylinder. In other words, the lower or left hand end of the cylinder is the inlet end of the washing machine, and the right-hand end or elevated portion of the cylinder is the outlet end.

At the inlet end of the cylinder is a wall 20 forming a partial enclosure of the inlet end and constituting an opening 2| which is of a smaller diameter than the principal diameter of the cylinder. Due to the partially enclosing wall 20 and the angle of inclination of the cylinder, a bank of Water 22 is retained in the cylinder to provide a water level 23 which extends from the opening 2| to or near'the outlet opening of the cylinder. A trough 24 and drain 25 provide means for collecting and disposing of the overow of water from the inlet opening 2 l.

Extending throughout the length oi the cylinder is a deflection chute 26. This chute is supported by structural members 21 and 28 located outside of the inlet and outlet ends, respectively. An additional support in the form of a structural channel 29Vextends throughout the length of the chute 26 and is attached to the structural members 2'! and 28. The chute 26 is positioned at an angle of approximately 45 degrees so that laundry 30 when dropped from the rib i8 in an elevated position will slide along the chute to a lower position within the cylinder. The chute 26 is formed in a corrugated manner to provide projections and depressions which determine the direction of travel of the laundry as it engages the surface of the chute. These corrugations or projections from the top to the bottom extend in a `direction toward the outlet end of the container. In other words, the corrugations or projections of the chute are inclined from a vertical position so that laundry, as it is dropped onto the chute, will move progressively with each dropping action toward the outlet end.

Entering the outlet end of the cylinder 3 is a conduit 3l for supplying hot water during the washing operation. One or more nozzles 32 disposed along the length 4of the cylinder directs a spray of hot water within the container at locations near the outlet end of the cylinder. At the inlet end of the container is a conduit 33 and nozzle 34 adapted for introducing a detergent solution into the container. i

In the operation of the continuous washing machine, the container is rotated continuously. detergent solution are permitted to flow and laundry is introduced intermittently into the inlet end of the container. As the cylinder rotates, the rib I8 picks up the laundry 30 to an elevated position, as shown in Figure 2. When the laundry reaches such a position it drops from the rib I8 and lands upon the chute 26. The laundry slides readily ofi" of the chute 26 but, due to the corrugations or pro- `iections on the surface of the chute, the laundry is moved to an advanced position toward the outlet end. The angle of inclination of the corrugations of the chute is such that the laundry is advanced from one-half inch to three inches toward the outlet end. Therefore, each time laundry is dropped onto the chute it moves forward progressively until it is nally discharged from This continuously intermittent gives each piece of laundry indropping action dividual and uniform treatment resulting in maxsois imum cleaning dry.

Since hot water is being introduced continuously within the container the direction of flew eiciency for each piece ci laun.

of water 22 within the container is toward thev ing eiect takes place at the region of the outlet end of the container. This cycle of operation is carried on continuously and progressively until individual articles of laundry drop progressively out of the outlet end of the container.

As thus shown and described, it is believed apparent that we have provided a unique and practical commercial laundry washing apparatus of the continuous type which is conducive to greater cleanliness of laundry, in combination with increased eillciency and greater output.

While we have shown and described one form of ourrinvention, it is to be understood that it is susceptible of obvious modifications all of which we contemplate within the spirit of our invention and as appearing in the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described our invention whatwe claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent 1. A washing machine comprising a sleeve having open inlet and outlet ends, the inlet end be-v ing located at a lower level than the outlet end, the inlet end of the sleeveV having an opening of less diameter than the opening at the outlet end, the angle of inclination of the sleevel by reason, of the inlet end being lower than the outlet er l being such that a horizontal line extending from the lower edge of the inlet opening will engage the` sleeve wall at a point between 1A of the length of the sleeve and the outlet end, means for rotating the sleeve, a rib extending along the length of the inner wall of the sleeve, a stationary chute extending through the sleeve and positioned with its longer axis substantially horizontally disposed and with its shorter axis inclined, the principal body of said chute lying below the axis ofthe sleeve and facing the wall .of the sleeve; and means associated with the chute for acting upon material sliding'down the chute for urging same to- Y ward the outlet end of the sleeve. v

A2. A washing machine comprising a sleeve having open inlet and outlet ends, the inlet end being located at a lower level than the outlet end, the inlet end of the sleeve having an opening of less diameter than the opening at the outlet end. the angleof inclination of the sleeve by reason of the inlet end being lower than the outlet end being such that from the lower edge engage the sleeve wall of the inlet opening will ata point between 1A of the length of the sleeve and the outlet end, means for rotating the sleeve, a rib extending along the length of the inner wall of the sleeve, and a stationary chute extending through the sleeve andA positioned with its longer axis substantially horizontally disposed and with its shorter axis inclined, the principal body of said chute lying below the axis of the sleeve and facing the wall of the sleeve, the surface of said chute forming corrugations positioned angularly in a manner so that each corrugation at the lowermost portion of the chute lies closer to the outlet end of the sleeve than the corrugation at the upper portion ofthe chute.

a horizontal line extending 3. A washing machine comprising a sleeve having open inlet and outlet ends, the inlet end being located at a lower level than the outlet end, the inlet end of the sleeve having an opening of less diameter than the opening at the outlet end, the angle of inclination of the sleeve by reason of the inlet end being lower than the outlet end being such that a horizontal line extending from the lower edge of the inlet opening will engage the sleeve wall at a point between 1/4 of the length of the sleeve and the outlet end, means for rotating the sleeve, a rib extending along the length of the inner wall of the sleeve, a stationary chute extending through the sleeve and positioned with its longer axis substantially horizontally disposed and with its shorter axis inclined, the principal body of said chute lying below the axis of the sleeve and facing the wall of the sleeve, and a plurality of projections extending downwardly on the chute and angularly thereof so that the lower part of each projection is closer to the outlet end of the sleeve than the upper part of the projection.

4. A washing machine comprising a sleeve having open inlet and outlet ends, the inlet end being located atv a lower level than the outlet end, the inlet end of the sleeve having an opening of less diameter than the opening at the outlet end, the angle of inclination of the sleeve by reason of the inlet end being lower than the outlet end being such that a horizontal line extending from the lower edge of the inlet opening will engage the sleeve wall at a point between 1/4 of the length of the sleeve and the outlet end, means for rotating the sleeve, a rib extending along the length of the inner wall of the sleeve, a stationary chute extending through the sleeve and positioned with its longer axis substantially horizontally disposed and with its shorter axis inclined, the principal body of said chute lying below the axis of the sleeve and facing the wall of the sleeve, and means associated with the chute for acting upon material sliding down the chute for urging same toward the outlet end of the sleeve.

5. A washing machine comprising a sleeve having openinlet and outlet ends, the inlet end being located at a lower level than the outlet end. the inlet end of the sleeve having an opening of less diameter than the opening at the outlet end, the angle of inclination of the sleeve by reason of the inlet end being lower than the outlet end being such that a horizontal line extending from the lower edge of the inlet opening will engage the sleeve at a point between 1/4 of the length of the sleeve and the outlet end, means for rotating the sleeve, a rib extending along the length of the inner wall of the sleeve, a stationary chute extending through the sleeve and positioned with its longer axis substantially horizontally disposed and with its shorter axis inclined, the principal body of said chute lying below the axis of the sleeve and facing the wall of the sleeve, and means associated with the chute for acting upon material sliding down the chute for urging same toward the outlet end of the sleeve.

6. A washing machine comprising a sleeve having open inlet and outlet ends, the inlet end being located at a lower level than the outlet end, the inlet end of the sleeve having an opening of less diameter than the opening at the outlet end, the angle of inclination of the sleeve by reason of the inlet end being lower than the outlet end being such that a horizontal line extending from the lower edge of the inlet opening will engage the sleeve at a point between x/4 of the length of the sleeve and the outlet end, means for rotating the sleeve, a rib extending along the length of the inner wall of the sleeve, a stationary chute extending through the sleeve and positioned with its longer axis substantially horizontally disposed and with its shorter axis inclined, the principal body of said chute lying below the axis of the sleeve and facing the wall of the sleeve, and a plurality of projections extending downwardly on the chute and angularly thereof so that the lower part'of each projection is closer to the outlet end of the sleeve than the upper part of the projection. y

'7. A washing machine comprising a sleeve having open inlet and outlet ends, the inlet end being located 'at a lower level than the outlet end, the inlet end of the sleeve having an opening of less diameter than the opening at the outlet end, the angle of inclination of the sleeve by reason of the inlet end being lower than the outlet end being such that a horizontal line extending from the lower edge of the inlet opening will engage lthe sleeve Wall at a point between 1A; of the length of the sleeve and the outlet end, means for rotating the sleeve, a rib extending along the length of the inner wall of the sleeve, a stationery chute extending through the sleeve and positioned with its longer axis substantially horizontally disposed and with its shorter axis inclined, the principal body of said chute lying below the axis of the sleeve and facing the wall of the sleeve, and a plurality of projections-extending down.- wardly on the chute and angularly thereof so that the lower part of each projection is closer to the outlet end of the sleeve than the upper part of the projection. v

ARTHUR A. LOCKE. RAYMOND F. TERNES. 

